How to Write an Effective Meta Description (Yes, They Still Matter)

I can't tell you the number of search results for companies I've come across that lack the one thing that might bring me to their websites: an effective meta description.

The meta description is one of your last hopes on search engine results pages (SERPs) to attract a searcher to come to your site. This is something that digital marketers constantly neglect to focus on -- perhaps because they think it just doesn't matter anymore. But if you're not putting effort into your meta descriptions, you could be missing out on good website traffic that can bring in lots of new leads and customers.

So, how can you produce meta descriptions that'll entice searchers to click? Write like a true salesperson. Let me show you how!

Meta Description's Role in Search Results

In case you're unfamiliar with the term, a meta description is the snippet of information below the link of a search result. Its purpose is to describe the contents of the page to the searcher. The end goal is to convince and persuade the searcher to click through to your website. Any words that match the search term are bolded in the description.

The image below shows you the basic anatomy of a search result, including where the meta description fits in.

For a given SERP, there's only a certain amount of people who will scroll down to the bottom of the page and click a result there. The percentage of clicks consistently drops off as you go further down the page, because a more relevant result is, logically, usually at the top of SERPs. So, if your result is far down at the bottom (or not even on the first page of results), you're already working shorthanded. This makes having a detailed, relevant, and eye-catching meta description that much more important.

If you're at the top of the SERPs, the same logic applies, though -- you want your meta description to be clear and convincing so that the searcher doesn't scroll to look for another result.

In short, the better your meta description, the more likely it is you'll have good clickthrough rates from organic search.

How to Write Great Meta Descriptions

I see writing meta descriptions as a legitimate exercise in effective sales copywriting. It should do everything possible to drive someone to make that decision and click. Our focus has to be on persuading the searcher to click -- while still maintaining accuracy so expectations are met. Here's how you can write meta descriptions that are clear, helpful, and stand out to searchers.

1) Use action-oriented language.

Action-oriented language is ideal for call-to-action copy -- which, if you think about it, is exactly what a meta description is -- because it tells the reader exactly what they can do if they click. Consider starting your meta descriptions with verbs like "Learn," "Discover," or "Grab,", and follow it up with specifics of what exactly they'll get if they click.

2) Provide a solution or benefit.

Tell the searcher what they can expect by clicking on your link. The last thing anyone wants to do is to have to click the 'Back' button because what they clicked on didn't match what they expected or wanted -- and you don't want it, either, if you care about your website's bounce rates.

Write a short sentence previewing the content or telling the searcher why they should read your post. Give them a clear benefit of clicking through and reading your post, if necessary. This is your chance to sell them on what you have to offer -- informative, valuable content.

3) Keep it under 155 characters.

Generally, a meta description should be under 155 characters. However, Google actually doesn't measure by characters -- it measures by pixels. That is, it'll cut off a meta description after a certain width. The reason we say 155 characters is to give marketers a benchmark to abide by. You can double-check the length of your meta description and title tags with this handy tool from SEOmofo.

4) Don't deceive searchers.

If your meta description deceives the reader with content not relevant to what they should expect, be prepared for the searcher to hit that 'Back' button again. Some meta descriptions are spammed with keyword-stuffed content -- this is bad, and probably stems from an old-school understanding of SEO. When searchers and search engines see keyword-stuffed content, that throws up all kinds of red flags, and hurts the level of trust a searcher has in your content.

5) Make it specific and relevant.

The average searcher knows a predictable, generic meta description when they see it in the SERPs (despite possibly not knowing exactly what a meta description is). That's why it's so important to use descriptive words -- not unnecessary "fluff" words -- and do your best to connect with your target audience and let them know what they'll get from clicking through on your search result.

What Not to Do With Meta Descriptions

Should you fail to put in a meta description for the pages you want to rank for, Google will display a snippet of text from the first paragraph of your page. If there's a search keyword in that text, it'll be bolded. Why is this bad? Well, it means you'll miss out on being able to sell to your prospective buyers. Now what salesperson would miss out on that opportunity?

And again -- I'm saying it again because it's important to reiterate this point -- stuffing keywords into your meta descriptions won't do you any good. These descriptions need to focus on providing clear and concise copy about your webpage, so avoid overusing terms simply because you think it's what your audience will want to see. (Hint: No one wants to see keyword stuffing.)

Your meta description is your chance to win over prospects. It's your short sales pitch for your website. Too many businesses leave this out and, in turn, miss out on a critical opportunity to improve clickthrough rates. Be sure to create an engaging meta description for your website that persuades people to choose you over your SERP competitors.

Have any questions or comments about optimizing for search results? Share them below!

This is good info on the best practices for creating a meta description, but I don't understand why any digital marketer would think a meta description didn't matter anymore. If anything--with more SERP competition, the rising use of Twitter cards, and more people sharing on social media--they're only becoming more important.

I agree with you completely, Mike. I think for a lot of businesses out there, it's a case of simply not knowing about it. I'm thoroughly glad HubSpot makes it a requirement for any COS blog post to have a meta description filled out. Thanks for reading!

I can attest to the truth that meta descriptions do help websites. When I search online, I am most likely to click the website that provides answers or solutions to my queries. A good meta description does exactly that which is why I also agree that every website should use one.

And not just one, Divine! Obviously, for all site pages of any website, it's a best practice to have a meta description there that is properly optimized to get people clicking through. And don't forget optimized title tags! All blog posts should have them too.

William, I feel your pain. But I challenge you to approach it like this: Think of the meta description as your sales pitch. If your business is trying to sell your products and/or services to the average Joe, approach your meta descriptions as if you're selling to interested prospective buyers. Write like a salesperson!

People should still be writing their own meta descriptions. You can easily test these and improve your SEO click through rates. Depending on how any impressions you get, you may want to test these every few weeks or once a month. Create new meta descriptions and titles for your pages and see what happens to your click through rates. Increasing your CTR% in the SERPs will help you move up in the rankings. Don't rely on the search engines to write this for you... bad idea.

Thanks for this, Ramesh. I feel like a broken record when it comes to explaining the importance of writing compelling Meta descriptions to my Ecommerce clients. Next time, I'll just point them to your article!